DORIA
Prove the mayor wrong.
This was the challenge of Police Regional Office in Central Visayas (PRO-7) Director Noli Taliño to the newly designated chief of the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) whose appointment was not welcomed by Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña.
Taliño is confident Senior Supt. Joel Doria can do his job well and realize President Rodrigo Duterte’s vision of addressing the spread of illegal drugs and other crimes within three to six months.
“I told him to work hard and prove that you deserve to be the director of the Cebu City Police Office. He has my full trust and confidence,” said Taliño of his former subordinate in the Special Action Force (SAF).
Doria replaced Senior Supt. Benjamin Santos whom Osmeña preferred to be CCPO director.
The mayor on Thursday said he was worried for Cebu as Doria, a former Pasay City Police chief, had been relieved because of drugs. It was during his term, on May 22, that five persons who attended the Close-Up Summer Forever Concert at the SM Mall of Asia, died allegedly from an overdose of “party drugs.”
Taliño defended Doria who was on leave when the incident took place. Pasay City policemen were also prohibited by party organizers inside the venue, Taliño said.
“He (Doria) was blamed for the death of those who attended the party. But he was never a protector of illegal drugs trade and he doesn’t receive money from drug groups,” the former SAF chief said.
Taliño said the National Capital Region Police Office cleared the police official of any misdeed in relation to the concert.
The PNP national headquarters also conferred a Medalya ng Kadakilaan to Doria for his “highly meritorious accomplishment” in the implementation of the Oplan Lambat-Sibat when he was city director of Pasay.
Taliño is hoping Osmeña will give Doria a chance to prove his worth.
Senior Supt. Doria said he will just have to do his work whether or not Osmeña likes him.
“Para sa akin, trabaho lang tayo (Let’s just work),” he said.
But whether or not the mayor will support the new CCPO director, Taliño said policemen will continue to combat illegal drugs and perform their duties and responsibilities to the best of their ability.
“Any support from the local government units is good for the police. But with or without it, I’m optimistic that we can address the problem of illegal drugs within three to six months,” he said.
Cash reward
Taliño said a private group, who requested anonymity, expressed intent to give a cash reward to policemen who can kill drug pushers.
Last July 14, Osmeña announced his decision to no longer give a cash reward of P50,000 for every dead crime suspect, citing his dismay over the recent revamp of police officers.
Taliño said the amount the private group will offer to policemen is less than the mayor’s offer but is enough to encourage them to work harder.
For now, the PRO-7 director is tight-lipped about details of the cash reward from a private group, saying they have yet to finalize the mechanics.
“This group doesn’t want to be identified,” he said.
Patrol Cars
Camp Crame sent 21 patrol cars yesterday to PRO-7. The vehicles will be distributed to different police units in the region.
Taliño said additional police vehicles from the Cebu City government could have given them a huge lift in ensuring peace and order, but added that it’s up to the mayor to provide the city police with logistical support or not.
The city government was supposed to give a total of 22 patrol cars and vans to the city police last Thursday but General Services Office chief Ronald Malacora said he was instructed by Osmeña to hold the release of the vehicles.
“The mayor has the final say. But even if he withdraws logistical support, the police will still do their jobs,” he said.
Taliño urged local chief executives and the public to trust the president and Philippine National Police Director General Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa who are doing their best to address crimes, especially the proliferation of illegal drugs.
Taliño clarified that the revamp of police officers is part of the internal cleansing being implemented by Dela Rosa.
“There’s no politics involved here. He (Dela Rosa) just wants to clean the ranks as we continue our fight against illegal drugs,” he explained.
“Just remember that the changes implemented in the PNP is not to destroy but is for the common good of Filipinos,” he said.